@ARTICLE{Golkar, author = {Babaie, Jalal and Amiri, Samira and Homayoun, Robab and Azimi, Ebrahim and Mohabati, Reyhaneh and Berizi, Mahboubeh and Sadaie, M. Reza and Golkar, Majid and }, title = {Immunization of C57BL/6 Mice with GRA2 Combined with MPL Conferred Partial Immune Protection against Toxoplasma gondii}, volume = {22}, number = {1}, abstract ={BBackground: We have previously reported that immunization with GRA 2 antigen of Toxoplasma gondii induces protective immunity in CBA /J (H2k) and BALB/c mice (H2d). We aimed to examine whether immunization of a distinct strain of rodent with recombinant dense granule antigens (GRA2) combined with monophosphorryl lipid A (MPL) adjuvant elicits protective immune response against T. gondii. Methods: C57BL/6 (H2b haplotype) mice were immunized with GRA 2, formulated in MPL adjuvant. Results: Strong humoral response, predominantly of IgG1 subclass and cellular response, IFN-γ, was detected at three weeks post immunization. Mice immunized with GRA 2 had significantly (p < 0.01) fewer brain cysts than those in the adjuvant group, upon challenge infection. Despite the production of a strong antibody response, IFN-γ production and brain cyst reduction were not significant when the immunized mice were infected four months after the immunization. Conclusions: We can conclude that GRA2 immunization partially protects against T. gondii infection in C57BL/6 mice, though the potency and longevity of this antigen as a standalone vaccine may vary in distinct genetic backgrounds. This observation further emphasizes the utility of GRA 2 for incorporation into a multi-antigenic vaccine against T. gondii. }, URL = {http://ibj.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-2095-en.html}, eprint = {http://ibj.pasteur.ac.ir/article-1-2095-en.pdf}, journal = {Iranian Biomedical Journal}, doi = {10.22034/ibj.22.1.22}, year = {2018} }